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Mac’s Cincinnati Reds Throwback Uniform Series: 1902 Edition

Throughout the 2019 season, the Cincinnati Reds will be wearing a series of throwback uniforms to commemorate their 150th Anniversary and being the birthplace of professional baseball. Each weekend during a home series, the Reds will wear the uniforms from a different era to put their rich baseball history on display. Along with the Reds’ celebration, I will be reviewing and providing thoughts on each uniform throughout the season.

The first of fifteen throwback uniforms for the Reds in the 2019 season will be worn tonight as they take on the San Francisco Giants. When the Reds first wore these uniforms, California had only been a state for 52-years and 56-years away from welcoming the relocated New York Giants to the west coast.

When thinking about old time baseball, this is the type of jersey most people would point to. It checks all the boxes. Collar? Check. Weird pocket? Check. Plain colors and no fancy fonts? Check.

I’m a huge fan of the plain CINCINNATI printed across the chest. That’s about all I’d take from these uniforms if they were to ask my opinion on the next wave of uniform changes (which I suspect they will). The hat looks cool as far as throwback hats go, but the ‘C’ doesn’t feel like Cincinnati. It looks like something a D-III school would have on their hat. The red piping looks fine, but I think it would drive me nuts if it was on an everyday part of the uniform.

A few things I’m looking forward to include the subtle features of the uniform. In the picture the collar seems small and well contained, but will that be the norm throughout the game? In previous throwback attempts by other organizations, the collar as become a major point of contention.

Not a joke: Source says Sale blowup was because he didn't want to wear throwbacks, so he cut the jerseys up so no one could wear them.

Hopefully the Reds version with collars aren’t that bad. I’m also intrigued by the breast pocket and if it will actually be that noticeable. I don’t even know what it would’ve been used for back in the day, and I can’t imagine anyone using them in today’s game — outside of maybe someone being goofy and putting something in there for pregame warmups or running out into the field with their batting gloves tucked in there for nice laugh.

Overall, I’m just excited to get the throwback uniforms kicked off. When the Reds originally announced this would be a part of the 150th season celebration I could hardly contain my excitement. The Reds have had some great uniforms throughout their history (a few of which should just be made the permanent uniforms) and I look forward to seeing them in action and reviewing them throughout the season.

Mac’s 150th Anniversary Throwback Rating: 102/150 – This isn’t a uniform I would campaign for a primary look, but it has some nice throwback touches that don’t just make it feel like a mailed in turn back the clock look like some organizations have.